Why I left the church . . . something like this usually makes me throw up in my mouth. Is that too harsh? Fast forward to the 18 minute mark and enjoy. And trust me . . . wait for it. Don’t think it’s just the song I’m talking about. Give me 4 minutes of your life and I will give you life to the fullest. Not really, but wait for it. When you see the Hummer Golf Cart, a security detail and hear rap music, you’ll know you’re getting to the good stuff.
If you thought this was bad, then you haven’t seen anything yet. And I’m sorry. I’ve been on my best behavior lately and been cordial, respectful, tactful. I’m throwing it all out the window on this one. When your former church does this . . . you can’t be surprised when I end up like I do. And I’m the liberal wayward son?
19 Comments:
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
I’m really, really bothered by this. A lot went into it. And a lot of people are involved. Wow.
1) I could never lead worship beside a big sign that said “BLING”. Nope. Not gonna happen, even if I didn’t have a problem with this presentational approach. Come on, at least cover it during worship! The juxtaposition is quite strange!
2) A 55-minute sermon? Are you kidding me? I would have listened to it just so I could have said “at least the message was good,” but I would have fallen asleep. Sorry, preachers, but if you can’t say what God has told you to say in 15 minutes, you’re gonna bore your audience to death and they’re gonna go home forgetting nearly everything you said.
3) Remember, this is all about presentation. Getting people’s attention. If that’s what church was supposed to be about, then it all makes sense. Unfortunately (for them), the NT makes church all about relationships. About the body ministering to one another.
4) Instead of throwing up, I found it both hilarious and just plain sad. This kind of thing happens every week at countless churches, and at many on an ever bigger scale. And either Cross Point got this idea from another church, or other churches will emulate exactly what they did.
I found it fairly racist, or at least quite sterotyped
Wow. Just wow.
That’s your former church?
yeah, that was very stereotyping, i’d venture to agree with Ariah and say racist…and very sad. how much “bling” did they spend to make that happen?
speechless.
wow…
i remember sitting in on those “idea” meetings.
i usually left pretty upset.
glad i didn’t have to be a part of this one.
Seriously, he didn’t even have his shirt untucked so he could look cool. Could he have said the word “baby” more?
Unreal. ugh.
I just threw up in my mouth.
Then I punched myself in the ear.
Then I set myself on fire.
It’s jackassery like this that make me second guess being in ministry.
Jesus is sooo pissed right now.
I find it really intriguing that y’all are having such a visceral reaction to this. It reminds me of how I used to react before I reach my new, higher level of cynicism about the church in America. Yes, very very … distrubing. But not at all surprising. I’m stoked for you, Josh, that you are outta there.
well i’m glad that i’m not the only one throwing up in my mouth. so for all who are urping in their mouth . . . we are now one. the upchuck gang. not to be confused with the apple dumpling gang.
dave. nice with the setting yourself on fire. but i’m not sure jesus is pissed so much as he is just scratching his head.
ummm that was awesome! First thoughts….A. I would give Lance Armstrongs left testical to play piano like that. 2. That was some pimped out golf cart!
I just think that was awesome. It was almost as funny as the UUUGGGH UGG I can’t breathe lady.
Oh…dear God.
Pass the barf bag, will ya?
you mean this lady leslie?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90m2Xw_Haj0
Actually the whole foofoorah with the bling and the hummer golf cart isn’t the worst part. It’s all stuff he says after that–his overall message is the really disturbing thing.
55 minutes is awesome. What’s his average? We’ve got one here in Seattle who is very likely worse than Mr. Merritt, who carries on for I think a tad over an hour on average–Mark Driscoll is his name. I think he might also be slightly more naseating that Merritt. see if this one does anything for y’all, Upchuck gang.
yeah driscoll doesn’t have a lot of fans around these parts. do a little search on my blog alone and you’ll see me ranting and raving. thanks for the link though.
[...] we dare to even open our mouths and suggest we know a thing. This is unpopular, and it gets tricky when and if one’s primary community loses its foundation as a disciplined community of followe…, but we should err on the side of community rather than individuality. Explore posts in the same [...]
yikes
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